“

1. 1. NCBB Ssn XIX Orange Bowl

With a POMBer on both sides and another MB rat Guard, this was expected to be a brutal game, and the Rats induced a spare Apo and 'Babes against that expectation. But while casualties played their part, and despite a dozen blocks by each POMBer (and more PO'ing) plus a trio of rat fouls, the injuries were mostly light, until 2nd half Knock Outs made just enough of a difference.

Before the game, S&M had dropped 100k on the right doctors to get a rookie Blitzer, out MNG with a concussion, certified "good to play". Meanwhile the Rats' Kicker/DP was out MNG, and he would prove to be sorely missed, possibly a balance tipper in the tight game.

The Rats chose to receive (positioning themselves for a T16 OTS attempt if they needed it) , but a Perfect Defense held them to cagingd just behind the LoS (and avoided an opening POMB block), and boxed them in to keep them there for their Turn 2. Then the S&M coaching staff saw a chance on the ball and went soft in the head, panicked, called for an early RR'd block, and skulled out, throwing the door open for the rats to score Turn 4, if with some pressure (after RR'ing another early double-skull) behind them to discourage any stalling - S&M down 0-1.

So far, not a single Cas had been suffered on either side, and few Stuns, but that would soon change, if only a bit.

Turn 4 a short kick left the ball behind the center LoS, and after MNG'ing a rookie linerat, S&M got itself spread out by chasing GR's with their POMBer, unable to finish the cage after supporting their heavy hitter, and then being forced to use their last RR on the pickup. TCU declined a surf opportunity on the POMBer, instead shifting wide to that side to foul him, which failed. Seeing a chance to swing down and change fields Turn 5, Texas opened with a Blitz - which double-skulled, their 3rd of the half. But the screen was solid, so the Rats chose to use their blitz to surf one of S&M's only 2 Tacklers (who was KO'd, not to return for the game), mark the S&M St 4 Blodgestep ballcarrier w/ their ballhawk GR (non-ss'ing), and lastly foul the S&M Guard out KO'd, leaving only enough for a ragged defensive screen. With no RR's, Texas changed gears from the bash and gambled on Dodge and then Ag 4 to pull away and move between defenders and, with some key 2+ rolls, caged up, centered at the 7. The speedy rats could not quite recover, and the DElfs dodged away again to set up a sideline half-cage at the 2. The Rats only sent a few to defend, choosing to set up some additional blocks away from the play, with only a Blodgestepping GR multi-dodging in to block the way - but marked by the S&M heavy hitting senior. T8 the tackler took him down, the POMB put him MNG (but back into the game via the 1st of the Rats' 2 Apo's), and a chainpush sent another GR into the crowd - but only into the reserve box. At that point the score was a walk-in, tying the half 1-1.


2nd half saw 10 Delfs (less their Guard) receiving against a full Rat roster, their one MNG rookie lino replaced by a twin. Altho' the DElfs KO'd a linerat on their first block, the kick by chance landed on the sideline, and a failed pickup encouraged an immediate use of a RR to keep it safe. The Rats answered the KO in kind, and the DElfs repeated Turn 3 but on a Blocking Thrower. But failed Math 101 and didn't form a proper cage nor quite keep the ball out of range of the speedy Rats, and a double GFI -2d (RR'd) by the ballhawk GR wrestled them both to the ground and set the ball bouncing thru nearby Rat hands, but finally dropping midfield where the remaining Sure Hands Thrower could only comfortably mark it along with the 2 Rat Blitzers, the POMBer and the MB Guard, and only a couple DElfs, to end Turn 3.

Puzzle scenarios followed for the next couple turns, as the DElfs recovered the ball on the TCU 11 but had to scramble to keep it safe, and the Rats struggled to keep up the pressure after their other Blocking Thrower was KO'd, leaving them only 1 man down (9:8), but distinctly short on Strength with 4 GR's on the field against the 2 DElf +St seniors. The Aggroes survived Turn 4 and consolidated Turn 5, but Turn 6 failed to make any headway, leaving the (St 3 Blodge) MA 7 ballcarrier still caged up at the 11, and the Rats formed a ragged double-deep D 7 squares wide in front of it.

Turn 7, for the 3rd time, the S&M Coaches failed remedial math, screwing up the count for the cage, and a snaked GFI both took their last RR and left the ballcarrier only half-caged on the 8, but not before Stunning the Rats' ballhawk GR. The Rats uncharacteristically chose not to try to blitz the ballcarrier, nor did they manage to get more than 2 players in front of the score, but both Blodge-stepping GR's. With no RR remaining, S&M Blitzed their Witch free, who dodged to a double-GFI to get into the endzone, then dodged away from the Tackler and GFI'd for a 2+ Pass and Catch - about a 1 in 3 play to go head.

Turn 16, S&M placed their 2 sidesteppers (one a senior) on the LoS, all but shutting down the OTS, and thus avoiding the coin toss of OT.


S&M did not play a "bowl-quality" match, but the casualties - even if just KO's - took their toll on the AV 7 Rats, and allowed the DElfs to elf-ball to the nail-biter win. On the other hand, TCU never used their 2nd Apo, holding him back in case of something more severe, and so that Inducement never came into play. In only their 2nd year, almost all Sophomores, TCU demonstrated an untimely ability on the field, and with all their players returning next season, will be a serious Bowl threat.
”